Gas-engine



(No Model.)

J. C. BEGKFELD 8v A. S-GI-IMID.

lGAS ENGINE. No. 421.477. Patented Feb. 18, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN CIIARLS BECKFELD AND ALBERT SOHMID, OF ALLEOHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,477, dated February18, 1890.

Application ned Tidy 18,1889. serial No. 317,929. cto model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that we, JOHN CHARLES BECK- FELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and ALBERT SCHMID, a citizen of the' Republic of Switzerland,both residing in Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny, and in the Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usel ful Improvements inGas-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

In a patent of the United States granted to us May 14, 1889, No.403,294, we have shown and described an air and gas engine whichcontained the following among other parts common to these devices: amixing-chamber into which air and gas from separate reservoirs areconducted and mixed, a combustion-chamber into which the mixed gasesfrom the mixing-chamber are forced and Where they are burned, and anautomatic pressure-regulating device determining an unchangeable excessof pressure in the mixing-chamber above that in the combustionchamber.It is :necessary to practical working that this excess of pressure inthe mixing-chamber should be maintained, as otherwise, for instance,when the expanded gases are shut off from the cylinder of the engine,the pressure in the combustion-chamber increases, and should it equal,or nearly so, the pressure in the mixing-chamber the flowv of the gaswill be interrupted and the flame extinguished. The means shown in oursaid patent for preventing this is a regulator of any properdescription, which under the influence of an increasing pressure in thecombustion-chamber operates to relieve said pressure by opening anoutlet or escape tube. l/Ve have found that we may effect a similarresult by using a reservoir of suitable dimensions between thecombustion-chamber and the working-cylinder or engine proper, andproviding therefor an outlet or escape tube, which, being constantlyopen, prevents the accumulation in the combustion-chamber at any time ofsuflicient pressure to extinguish the flame.

A second part of our invention consists in the employment in thecombustion-chamber of a refractory body which will be renderedincandescent by the heat of the flame directed upon it and which willserve to reignite the iiame in the event of an accident-aleXtinguishment thereof.

A third part of the invention resides in the provision whichV we makefor primarily igniting the gaseous mixture. For this purpose we form inthe combustion-chamber an opening, preferably screw threaded, into whichwe -thrust a torch or igniter composed of any suitably refractory or slowly-combustible body-such as carbon-raised to incandescence or asufficiently high temperature to ignite the gas. These and otherimprovements are illustrated in the accompanying d 1awings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation and part section of an entire enginecontaining our improvements above referred to. Fig. 2 is a side View ofthe torch or igniter. Fig. 3 isa socket or handle for supporting thesame and closing the opening in the combustion-Chamber. Fig. 4 is asectional View of the combustionchamber, showing the torch or igniter inplace.

A represents a gas-reservoir. B the 'airreservoir, and O the workingparts of the engine, including the cylinder and piston, crankshaft, andpumps. These parts being common to gas-engines of this type, are notdescribed in detail, their construction being well understood.

D is what is known in these engines as a mixing-chamber. The gas underpressure is admitted thereto through a pipe E, entering the conicalcompartment or nozzle F. The air, also under compression, is admittedthrough pipe G through an annular chamber I-I. The end of the nozzle Fprojects into a cone practically closed at its smaller end by a soliddetlector J. The gas issuing from the nozzle F draws the air through thecone I, as in an injector, whereby the air and gas become thorouglymixed. The mixed gases pass from the mixing-chamber through a perforatedblock or partition K, and into the combustion-chamber. The purpose ofthe partition is to allow the gases to pass through, but prevent theflame in the combustionchamber from running bach into the mixingchamber.

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Between the combustionchamber,where the volume of the air and gas isincreased by their combustion, and the engine-cylinder, is a reservoiror storage-reservoir L, into which the expanded gases are Compressed,and when so desired a scrubber or filter M. A pipe N leads from thereservoir and is provided With a valve through which a constant escapeof the products of combustion may be permitted. The temperatureresulting from the combustion of the gas being very high, it is cooledbefore passing to the engine by a supply of air through a pipe P.

In the combustion-chamber we place the body O,which willbecomeincandescent under the heat of the flame. This maybe of various formsand of Various materials. In the drawings we show a perforatedcylindrical body of fire-clay or the like.

The ignition of the gas may be primarily effected in the usual way-thatis to say, two insulated wires may be secured in a tube R, leading fromthe combustion-chamber, and a spark passed between them while the gas isflowing through said pipe. After being ignited the gas is shut off fromthe pipe by a suitable valve. VV-e have devised, moreover,

the apparatus shown in Figs. 2, 3, and et for igniting the gas.

S is an opening in the wall of the combustion-chamber.

T is a'socket orhandle which may inserted and screwed tightly into theopening, and V represents a combustible body, preferably coke or carbon,which is consumed very slowly, which may be inserted in the handleserved by the continuous flow or escape'of gas through the pipe N fromthe reservoir L. n

The quantity of gas thus escaping is not enough to sensibly impair theefficiency of u the engine.

Aair and of gas connected therewith, a combustion-chamber into which themixed air and gas passes, and where it is continuously burned, and areceiver for the expanded gases, located between the engine-cylinder andthe combustion-chamber, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the engine-cylinder of a gas-engine, of amixing-chamber, sources of air and of gas connected therewith, acombustion-chamber into which the mixed air and gas passes, and where itis continuouslyburned, the said chamberbeing provided with aconstantly-open outlet or discharge opening to the atmosphere, and areceiver for the expanded gases located between the engine-cylinder andthe combustion-chamber, as set forth.

4. The combination, with a combustionchamber having an opening in itswall 'or side, of the socket or holder adapted to close said opening,and a carbon stick or rod inserted in said socket, as set forth.

JOHN CHARLES BECKFELD. ALBERT SCHMID.

Witnesses:

J. M. TATE, Jr., W. D. UPTEGRAFF.

